PinchasBy Rabbi Yisroel Ciner

This week we read Parshas Pinchas. At the end of last week's parsha,
Bilaam, knowing that Hashem despises immorality, advised Moav to send their
daughters to try to seduce Bnei Yisroel. Midyan and Moav successfully
followed this advice which resulted in a plague that killed twenty four
thousand members of Bnei Yisroel.

Pinchas acted courageously and zealously to stop the immorality that was
going on around him and thus caused the cessation of the plague.

We are taught that tzedakah {charity} exemplified by the machatzis
ha'shekel {half shekel coin donated toward the Tabernacle} saves from death.
The Gaon of Vilna writes that the word 'machatzis' is spelled 'mem',
'ches', 'tzaddi', 'yud' and 'suf'. The middle letter, 'tzaddi' represents
tzedakah {charity}. The letters immediately before and after the 'tzaddi'
are 'ches' and 'yud', spelling 'chai' {life}--the result of drawing close
to tzedakah. The letters furthest from tzedakah are the first and fifth
letters, 'mem' and 'suf' spelling 'mais' {death}--the result of distancing
oneself from tzedakah.

Here Pinchas turned away 'chamasi' {Hashem’s anger}. Chamasi is spelled
'ches', 'mem', 'suf' and 'yud'. Contrary to what we find by tzedakah, in
Hashem's state of anger 'mem' and 'suf' {'mais'=death} are next to one
another. The first and fourth letters, 'ches' and 'yud' {'chai'=life} are
distant from one another. Pinchas turned away that anger, causing the
breakup of 'mais' and the subsequent cessation of the plague.

For this he was given a most astounding reward: "Hinnei nosain lo brisi
shalom {Behold I will give him my covenant of peace.} [25:12]"

The Sforno explains that the covenant of peace was in fact peace from death
itself. Pinchas was granted immunity from the malach ha'mavess {the angel
of death}. This is born out by the opinion that the prophet Eliyahu
{Elijah} is none other than Pinchas. Eliyahu, we are taught in the Navi
{Prophets}, ascended to the heavens in a chariot of fire. With this
covenant of peace he never died.

How was the vengeance that Pinchas avenged so unique and exemplary that he
merited such an amazing reward?

The story is told (Around the Maggid's Table - Rabbi Paysach Krohn) of a
wealthy man, R' Zev, known for his compassion for others. Although he was a
tough businessman, he always found a place in his heart for the less
fortunate than he who would often call upon him for help.

One day, Shimon, a man who had reneged on many obligations in the past,
called to ask for a large loan. Knowing that no one else would lend him any
money, R' Zev decided to aid him. He hoped that Shimon would appreciate the
fact that he had helped him when no one else would and show that
appreciation by paying back the loan on time.

That unfortunately was not the case. The due date came and went without
even a word from Shimon. After more than two years had passed, even R'
Zev's inexhaustible patience finally reached its limit. He approached
Shimon to ask for his money.

Needless to say, R' Zev was completely shocked when Shimon denied ever
having received any loan from him. "How dare you deny the loan! I helped
you when no one else would! This is how you 'repay' me?" R’ Zev demanded
angrily.

Shimon remained steadfast in his calm denial, leaving R' Zev no recourse
besides summoning Shimon to a Rabbinical court. The judges ruled that in
the absence of any document or witnesses, Shimon had the option to swear
that he hadn't received any money from R' Zev and could thus be exonerated.

R' Zev was confident that even Shimon wouldn't have the audacity to swear
falsely but he once again miscalculated. Shimon calmly swore that he hadn't
borrowed any money. At this point R' Zev lost it… "I don't care about the
money but how can you swear falsely! Don't even the Ten Commandments mean
anything to you? You are a disgrace to yourself and to all Jews!" With
that, R' Zev stormed out of the room.

For months R' Zev was still furious. "I don't care about the money but how
could he swear falsely?" he would say time and time again.

Years passed and the incident was forgotten. Then one Shabbos afternoon, R'
Zev went to the front of the synagogue and made a startling announcement.
"A number of years ago I had an incident with Shimon. After the ruling of
the judges I criticized Shimon publicly in a very severe manner. Just as I
defamed him publicly, I am now begging his forgiveness publicly."

The congregants were stunned. Immediately after the prayers people ran to
R' Zev, curious to know what prompted this apology after so many years. He
then told the following story.

"This past week I was traveling on business through a far away town. I had
some free time so I decided to sit in on the Rabbinical court which was
then convening. As I sat and listened I realized that they were judging an
almost identical case to the one that I had brought against Shimon a few
years ago. A man who had admitted to other people that he had borrowed
money from a certain wealthy individual was now denying it. The judges
ruled that he could swear and be free from any obligation. No one thought
he would swear but he did. I watched it all happen and it didn't faze me."

"As I was traveling home a thought occurred to me. This man had also
violated the same commandments that had upset me so much years ago but now
it didn't really bother me. Why had it upset me so much with Shimon but not
at all with him? I realized that it really was my money that was
infuriating me all along. I kept saying that it was the false swearing and
the desecration of Hashem's name but I now see that it really was simply
the fact that it was my money. For that I had no right to speak so harshly
against him."

Pinchas, the passuk {verse} states, was "kan'o es kinasi." He was avenging
Hashem's honor. There wasn't even a smack of his own personal interests in
mind. By doing that he rose above the confused mixture of good and evil
that we are all comprised of. He didn't need the normal life/death process
that we all must endure in order to separate and be re-built in a purely
tov' {good} manner. He lived forever.

In order to pray for the redemption we must put aside our own personal
considerations--the planned vacation, the IPO, etc.--and be troubled by the
incredible desecration of Hashem's name that results from the world
continuing in its present state. We must be "kan'o es kinasi" be jealous for
Hashem without involving our own petty dealings and concerns.

Once we reach that point, the news of the redemption will be brought by
none other than Pinchas/Eliyahu. Informing us that his teachings have
finally been learned and internalized as we dance together to greet the
Moshiach who will finally teach the world about Hashem.